Lords Pass Proposed Secondary Ticketing Regulations

Britain's House of Lords approved adding a new clause to the Consumer Rights Bill forcing online ticket resellers to disclose their identity, how big a markup they are adding, and what risks consumers run by buying on the secondary market. The reasons behind the amendment include exposing commercial scalpers who purchase tickets in bulk, ensuring consumers understand they are buying a touted ticket, the premium they are paying and the possible risk of being denied admission, and attempting to stop scalpers from selling tickets they have yet to actually obtain from the primary seller. “This is a victory both for the ticket-buying public and for the hugely important live event industry,” says Liberal Democrat Lord Tim Clement-Jones. “The police and the entertainment industry have been clear that action needs to be taken on ticket touts to ensure that genuine fans can get access to gigs, shows, and games without having to pay extortionate prices, and these new measures would do exactly that.” Opponents of the plan include Ticketmaster, which contends overregulation of the secondary ticketing market will force resellers onto online platforms beyond Britain's direct jurisdiction, where fraudulent sales are more likely.